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HAPPY, AN ELEPHANT IN THE BRONX ZOO, IS NOT A “PERSON” ENTITLED TO THE PROTECTION OF A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS; THE PETITION SOUGHT HAPPY’S TRANSFER TO AN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY; TWO DISSENTS (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge DiFiore, over two dissenting opinions, determined an elephant at the Bronx Zoo (Happy) was not entitled to the protection of a writ of habeas corpus. The petition sought Happy’s transfer from the zoo to an elephant sanctuary:

For centuries, the common law writ of habeas corpus has safeguarded the liberty rights of human beings by providing a means to secure release from illegal custody. The question before us on this appeal is whether petitioner Nonhuman Rights Project may seek habeas corpus relief on behalf of Happy, an elephant residing at the Bronx Zoo, in order to secure her transfer to an elephant sanctuary. Because the writ of habeas corpus is intended to protect the liberty right of human beings to be free of unlawful confinement, it has no applicability to Happy, a nonhuman animal who is not a “person” subjected to illegal detention. Thus, while no one disputes that elephants are intelligent beings deserving of proper care and compassion, the courts below properly granted the motion to dismiss the petition for a writ of habeas corpus … . Matter of Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc. v Breheny, 2022 NY Slip Op 03859, CtApp 6-14-22

Practice Point: So far, sentient non-humans (like Happy, an elephant in the Bronx Zoo) are not entitled to the protection against “illegal custody” afforded by a writ of habeas corpus.

 

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EVEN THOUGH THE STATE ASSEMBLY REDISTRICTING MAP WAS DECLARED INVALID BY THE COURT OF APPEALS IN APRIL 2022, THE MAP WILL BE USED UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTION IN 2024 (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined the state assembly redistricting mag declared invalid by the Court of Appeals on April 27, 2022, shall be used in the upcoming 2022 elections and any new map will not be used before the 2024 general election:

… [T]he February 2022 map is invalid, based on its procedural infirmity as previously determined by the Court of Appeals in Matter of Harkenrider v Hochul (__ NY3d __, 2022 NY Slip Op 02833 [Apr. 27, 2022]), … will remain in effect for the 2022 assembly primary election to be held on June 28, 2022 and the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, and … , upon the formal adoption and implementation of a new legally compliant state assembly map, for use no sooner than the 2024 regular election, the February 2022 map will be void and of no effect … . Matter of Nichols v Hochul, 2022 NY Slip Op 03809, First Dept 6-10-22

Practice Point: The Court of Appeals, in April 2022, declared the state assembly redistricting map invalid. Here the First Department determined the map will continue to be used until the general election in 2024.

 

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THE EVIDENCE OF “PHYSICAL INJURY” WAS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT; ASSAULT SECOND CONVICTION REVERSED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s assault second conviction, determined the evidence the police officer sustained “physical injury” was legally insufficient:

” ‘Physical injury’ means impairment of physical condition or substantial pain” (Penal Law § 10.00 [9]). Although pain is subjective, the Court of Appeals has cautioned that “the Legislature did not intend a wholly subjective criterion to govern” … . “Factors relevant to an assessment of substantial pain include the nature of the injury, viewed objectively, the victim’s subjective description of the injury and his or her pain, whether the victim sought medical treatment, and the motive of the offender” … . Here, the officer testified that he experienced “quite a bit of pain” to his “left upper thigh/groin area” after struggling with defendant when he resisted arrest and that his pain was a 6 or 7 out of 10 on the pain scale. There was only a vague description of the injury, and no medical records for the officer were introduced in evidence … . In addition, there was no testimony that the officer took any pain medication for the injury … and the officer did not miss any work or testify that he was unable to perform any activities because of the pain. People v Bunton, 2022 NY Slip Op 03856, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here there was only a vague description of pain and no medical records were introduced. The assault conviction was not supported by legally sufficient evidence the police officer suffered “physical injury.”

 

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ROBBERY THIRD AND ASSAULT SECOND CONVICTIONS REVERSED AS LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSES OF ROBBERY SECOND (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversed the robbery third and assault second convictions as lesser included offenses of robbery second:

… [R]obbery in the third degree is a lesser included offense of robbery in the second degree … . Moreover, although not raised by the parties, we note that assault in the second degree under section 120.05 (6) is a lesser included offense of robbery in the second degree under section 160.10 (2) (a) … . We therefore modify the judgment by reversing those parts convicting defendant of robbery in the third degree and assault in the second degree and dismissing counts one and three of the indictment … . People v Coleman, 2022 NY Slip Op 03842, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here the robbery third and assault second convictions were reversed as lesser included offenses of robbery second.

 

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THE SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE 1990’S WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY SIMILAR TO THE CHARGED OFFENSES AND THEREFORE DID NOT MEET THE “MODUS OPERANDI” CRITERIA UNDER MOLINEUX TO PROVE IDENTITY; NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s convictions and ordering a new trial, determined the Molineux evidence allowed by County Court did not meet the “modus operandi” criteria:

Before trial, County Court granted the People’s motion seeking to introduce testimony that defendant sexually abused his eldest son in the 1990s, on the ground that the earlier, uncharged conduct was admissible under the modus operandi exception to the Molineux rule … . …

Modus operandi evidence is a means of establishing the defendant’s identity as the perpetrator … . Here, even assuming, arguendo, that defendant’s identity as the person who committed the crimes was not conclusively established … , we conclude that the similarities between the uncharged acts and the charged crimes were not “sufficiently unique to make the evidence of the uncharged crimes probative of the fact that [defendant] committed the [crimes] charged” … .People v Mountzouros, 2022 NY Slip Op 03840, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: If the identity of the perpetrator is an issue and the manner in which the charged crime was committed is unique, evidence of defendant’s commission of an uncharged crime involving the same unique “modus operandi” may be admissible under Molineux. Here sexual abuse allegations from the 1990’s were not sufficiently similar to the charged offenses. The uncharged-crime evidence should not have been admitted. New trial ordered.

 

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THE PROPERTY-INSURANCE EXCLUSION FOR “DETERIORATION” APPLIED TO THE BULGING WALL CAUSED BY THE DETERIORATION OF BRICKS, PRECLUDING COVERAGE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the “deterioration” exclusion in the property insurance policy applied to a bulging wall, precluding coverage:

Defendant met its initial burden on its motion by establishing as a matter of law that plaintiff’s loss is not covered under the policy because it resulted from “deterioration,” which condition was specifically excluded from coverage, and plaintiff failed to raise an issue of fact in opposition … . Unambiguous policy provisions are to be given their plain and ordinary meaning … , and the plain meaning of the exclusion in question “was to relieve the insurer of liability when its insured sought reimbursement for costs incurred in correcting . . . deterioration of the subject [premises]” … . Here, both defendant’s expert and plaintiff’s expert opined that the wall bulged due to deterioration of the bricks from exposure to moisture and freeze-thaw cycles. The only difference was that defendant’s expert opined that the wall had been deteriorating over an extended period of time, whereas plaintiff’s expert opined that the deterioration occurred over two months. Either way, the damage was the result of deterioration, and thus the policy exclusion applies and defendant is entitled to summary judgment … . S & J Props. of Watertown, LLC v Main St. Am. Group, 2022 NY Slip Op 03837, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here the bulging wall was caused by the deterioration of bricks. The “deterioration” exclusion in the policy applied and precluded coverage.

 

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A FIREFIGHTER INJURED ON THE JOB RETURNED TO THE JOB BUT COULD NOT WORK THE 10 TO 24 HOUR SHIFTS WHICH ARE THE “REGULAR DUTIES” OF A FIREFIGHTER; BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT OFFERED THE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT OF THE SHORTER SHIFTS OR LIGHT-DUTY WORK, SHE WAS ENITLTED TO GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW 207-A BENEFITS (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined petitioner, a firefighter who had injured her shoulder on the job, was entitled to General Municipal Law 207-a benefits:

A firefighter seeking section 207-a benefits must show “that his or her injury or illness results from the performance of his or her duties and that he or she is physically unable to perform his or her regular duties as a firefighter … . The regular duties of a firefighter for the City required shifts of between 10-24 hours, and the medical evidence is undisputed that petitioner could work only 8-hour shifts. Inasmuch as the evidence established that petitioner could not work the longer shifts, and she was not offered the full-time equivalent of the shorter shifts or light-duty work, the determination that she is not entitled to General Municipal Law § 207-a benefits is arbitrary and capricious. Matter of Newman v City of Tonawanda, 2022 NY Slip Op 03834, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here petitioner-firefighter was injured on the job. When she returned to the job she could not work the 10 to 24 hour shifts which are the “regular duties’ of a firefighter. She was assigned shorter shifts which resulted in less pay. She was therefore entitled to General Municipal Law 207-a benefits.

 

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ALTHOUGH FATHER, WHO HAD BEEN IN THE MILITARY, HAD NOT PROCURED HOUSING FOR HIMSELF AND HIS UNDER-SIX-MONTH-OLD SON, HE DEMONSTRATED HE WAS WILLING AND ABLE TO CARE FOR THE CHILD; THEREFORE HIS CONSENT TO ADOPTION BY PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS WAS REQUIRED AND CUSTODY WAS PROPERLY AWARDED TO HIM; THE DISSENT ARGUED FATHER’S FAILURE TO PROCURE HOUSING RENDERED HIM UNABLE TO CARE FOR THE CHILD (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, over a dissent, determined father demonstrated he is willing and able to enter a full relationship with his under-six-year-old child and, therefore, his consent to adoption by the petitioners-respondents was required and he was properly awarded custody of the child. The dissent argued father, who was in the military, made no attempt to procure housing for himself and the child and, therefore, did not demonstrate he was able to care for the child:

We … disagree with our dissenting colleague and conclude that the father established his ability to assume custody of the child. Contrary to the position of the dissent and petitioners, custody and housing are separate and distinct concepts. A parent who lacks housing for a child is not legally precluded from obtaining custody. Certainly, active military members should not lose custody of a child due to their service to our country. Many parents enlist the aid of family members to help them provide housing, including single parents who serve in the military. That temporary inability to provide housing should not preclude them from asserting their custodial rights to the children where, as here, they have established their intent to embrace their parental responsibility. Matter of William, 2022 NY Slip Op 03831, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: The Fourth Department noted that custody and housing are separate and distinct concepts. Although father, who had been in the military, had not procured housing for himself and the child, he demonstrated he was willing and able to care for the child. Therefore his consent to adoption by the petitioners-respondents was required and custody was properly awarded to him.

 

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AFTER THE TRIAL HAD BEGUN AND WITNESSES HAD TESTIFIED, THE JUDGE BECAME ILL AND SOUGHT A COVID TEST; AFTER THE NEGATIVE TEST-RESULT, THE JUDGE, SUA SPONTE, WITHOUT DEFENDANT’S CONSENT, DECLARED A MISTRIAL; THE JUDGE’S FAILURE TO CONSIDER A CONTINUANCE OR THE SUBSTITUTION OF ANOTHER JUDGE WAS AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION; THE DOUBLE-JEOPARDY PROHIBITION PRECLUDED RETRIAL (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department granted defendant’s petition for a writ of prohibition barring retrial on the ground of double jeopardy. A jury was selected and three witnesses had testified when the trial judge became ill and scheduled a COVID test (which came back negative). The judge ultimately, sua sponte, declared a mistrial without defendant’s consent. Because there were alternatives to a mistrial, a continuance, for example, the double-jeopardy prohibition precluded retrial:

… [T]here was no manifest necessity for the mistrial, and the court therefore abused its discretion in granting it sua sponte … . The record establishes that the court did not consider the alternatives to a mistrial, such as a continuance … or substitution of another judge … . “[I]f the judge acts so abruptly as to not permit consideration of the alternatives . . . or otherwise acts irrationally or irresponsibly . . . or solely for convenience of the court and jury . . . , retrial will be barred” … . “The court has the duty to consider alternatives to a mistrial and to obtain enough information so that it is clear that a mistrial is actually necessary” … . Matter of McNair v McNamara, 2022 NY Slip Op 03825, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here the judge became ill after the trial had begun and declared a mistrial without defendant’s consent and without considering a continuance or the substitution of another judge. There was no manifest necessity for the mistrial. The double-jeopardy prohibition therefore precluded retrial.

 

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THE POLICE DID NOT HAVE A REASONABLE SUSPICION DEFENDANT WAS ARMED AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FRISK HIM; THE POLICE DID NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST DEFENDANT WHEN HE THREW HIS COAT AT AN OFFICER AND RAN BECAUSE THE POLICE WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ATTEMPT THE FRISK; INDICTMENT DISMISSED; AN APPELLATE COURT CANNOT CONSIDER A THEORY WHICH WOULD SUPPORT DENIAL OF SUPPRESSION BUT WHICH WAS NOT RAISED BY THE PEOPLE BELOW (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, dismissing the indictment, over a two-justice dissent, determined the police did not have a reasonable suspicion defendant was armed and therefore should not have attempted to frisk him when he got out of the vehicle. The fact that defendant threw his coat at the officer and ran did not justify defendant’s arrest for obstructing governmental administration because the police conduct (the attempted frisk) was not authorized:

… [T]he police proceeded to an attempted frisk by approaching the passenger side of the truck, opening the door, and directing defendant to exit the truck so that, as they informed defendant, they could perform a frisk of his person … . The attempted frisk was unlawful, however, because the record establishes that the police did not have ” ‘knowledge of some fact or circumstance that support[ed] a reasonable suspicion that . . . [defendant was] armed or pose[d] a threat to [their] safety’ ” … . Furthermore, even though defendant, despite being instructed to leave his coat in the truck, grabbed the coat, threw it onto one of the officers, and fled in the grassy area by the side of the interstate highway, instead of submitting to the frisk of his person, the police lacked probable cause to arrest defendant for obstructing governmental administration in the second degree based on his alleged obstruction of the officers’ attempted frisk, because that police conduct was not authorized … . Moreover, while the officers had also indicated to defendant that they were going to perform a search of the truck, the People did not rely below on the theory that defendant was properly arrested for obstructing a lawful search of the truck, nor, as the dissent states, did the court “explicitly base[] its decision on that theory.” We thus conclude that, as “an appellate court[, we] may not uphold a police action on a theory not argued before the suppression court” … . People v Hodge, 2022 NY Slip Op 03821, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here the police did not have a reasonable suspicion that the defendant was armed and therefore should not have attempted to frisk him. The fact that the defendant threw his coat at an officer and ran did not provide probable cause for arrest because the police conduct (attempting to frisk him) was not authorized. An appellate court cannot consider a theory which would support the denial of suppression but which was not raised below.

 

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